Violence, starvation exist due to negligence, rich-poor gap, says Dalai Lama

A lot of problems, mainly violence and starvation, exist due to negligence and a "huge gap" between the rich and the poor, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said on Sunday.

During his address on the "art of happiness", the monk said that harmony among different faiths exists in India, which is unique in world. "All religions peacefully live together (in India).

Occasionally, there are some problems mainly due to politicians...so that also is understandable. (There are) some mischievous persons in human beings (sic)," the Dalai Lama said in a lighter vein, evoking peals of laughter.

Acknowledging existence of strife, he said, "(In) today's world, (there are) lot of problems...from the major disasters (which are) beyond control. But many problems, mainly violence, killing and starvation, are due to negligence and (due to) a huge gap between the rich and the poor."

The Dalai Lama hailed the peaceful co-existence of various faiths in India. "Bharat, this country..I think (since) over 2000 years, besides homegrown religions, Christianity, Islam from outside have coexisted peacefully and remained...I think that is unique. This does not exist in any other country," he said.

The Tibetan spiritual head appealed to Indians to show to outside world that different traditions can thrive together. He advocated religious harmony in the midst of strife over beliefs in world. "All religions preach love and compassion. No religion says that God is full of anger. The God is full of love. We are children of such a compassionate father (God).

Basis of all religions is harmony.. mutual respect," he added. Observing that violence, killing and starvation are man-made, the Dalai Lama said, "We human being ourselves have created all this. So either we just ignore or make some effort. But any sensible human being cannot ignore. Therefore, ignoring is perfectly wrong...Remaining indifferent (to the problems) is wrong," he said.